VEry aptlie and true­lie is Phisicke defi­ned by Hippocra­tes, where he saieth: Lib. de fla­tibus. That it is the addi­tion of those thinges which lacke and are too little: Phisicke what it is. and the withdrawing or subtrac­tion of things which doe abound and are too much. For, seeing it hath pleased the Almightie Creatour in such constitution to create and make the bodie of Man; that what through continuall wearing away and passibilitie of substaunce, it minutely and hourely wasteth and decaieth; & what through outward qualmes, accidents and causes externallie beetyding, it is soone altered, chaūged and quickly transposed: it had therefore neede to bee supported, guided and directed by the aduice of the learned and expert Phisition, who as a [Page] wise Counsellor and prouident Maister, may by his skill and knowledge bee able to recouer this losse, recure this decay, and in due time to repayre and restore in con­uenient qualitie and quantitie, the essence and substance thereof, through daylie and continuall wearing, forespent and misca­ried. But for so much as there is great di­uersitie in Bodies, aswell by their tempe­rature proper & naturall, as also (through their diuers trades and kindes of life) ac­cidentall and casuall, wherby (either more or lesse) according to the constitutions of their bodies, they bee subiect to inconue­nient alteration: yet, as it were by a cer­taine necessarie and ineuitable lawe of nature, there is ioyned vnto them, a third kinde of bodie, which is that, in Old men: the which also in it selfe greatly differeth and is vnlike: and therefore the prouident foresight and circumspect care about the same, must not bee small. For, this Age now standeth at receipt, bearing, carying and sustayning all the misusages, faultes, follies, disdietes and disorders of forepas­sed Ages: and so now by this reason, of it selfe is weake, feeble and vnweldie to all [Page] actions of the bodie. Good diet, and whole­some order most fit and needfull for Old men. And for this cause a special care for wholesome Diet must bee had in this Age, rather then in any other. For thereby the body now stowping, doa­ting and tottering with yeres, is kept and conserued in lustie, strong and healthie plight, with the perfect and sound vse of the Senses, euen till the very last cast of extreeme Age.

This profitable, wholesome and neces­sarie Diet for Olde men, is tearmed in Greeke [...], & is in vertue, wor­king, operation and effect, in a maner like vnto that renutritiue and restoratiue diet, that is prescribed vnto pueling and still sickly persons: or to such as haue beene lately recouered from their discrasies and maladies, to nourish and comforte their weake bodies, called likewise of the Gree­kes, [...]. For, these twaine (be­side that parte which is tearmed Gymna­stique or exercitatiue, seruing only for re­creation of them that bee strong & health­full) are the chiefe and speciall partes of that Phisicke, which is principally direc­ted to preserue the bodie, sound, healthfull and lustie by Diet.

[Page]The Phisition therfore that is to enter into this charge, and to deale in this be­halfe, must bee no childe in knowledge, neither a rawe Scholler in his Arte, but must bee able perfectly and at his fingers endes, The Phisi­tion must knowe the disposition and natures of bodies. to vnderstande and knowe the na­tures of Bodies, and the vertues, quali­ties and operations of al Receipts, helps and things both good and bad, wholesome and hurtfull. For it is no small matter exactly to set downe and prescribe a per­fect platforme of Diet, agreeable and in each respect iumping with any one parti­cular mans nature, much lesse for an Old man: seeing the Complexions and tempe­ratures of men bee so diuers, the compo­sition of each of their bodies, so singular, and to euery particuler person his selfe qualities so appropriate, (ouer and besides many sodaine brayes, and casuall happes befalling to them) that they cannot choose but suffer many alterations, and sundrie chaunges. Neuerthelesse, we at this time tying our selues to y ^e opiniōs of the graue and auncient Writers in this Arte, and following their learned iudgements, will take vnto vs for a patterne, and set before [Page] vs as an example to imitate in this pre­sent Treatise & Dietarie, some one such Old man, dealing yet in the affayres of the worlde, and matters of the Common wealth, as was Antiochus at Rome, in the daies of Galene: that by comparing the yeeres of that fresh & lustie Old man, with old men of other Ages: the Phisition (dealing in this charge of cherishing and w [...]ll dieting Olde men) may the better knowe and the readier see, what thinges bee best to choose, and what to eschewe: s [...]h Old age containeth in it self no small Latitude, according to more or lesse: ac­cording whereunto his diet and fare must proportionablie in cōuenient qualitie and quantitie bee either encreased or abated.

For a more plaine declaration there­fore of this matter, we wil diuide the Age of Old men stepped into yeres, into three partes. Old age of three sorts. The first is of such as beeing yet lustie in bodie, constant in minde and in strength seruiceable and actiue, doe exe­cute their accustomed businesse and deale still in their vsuall and wonted affayres: and these kinde of old men are very aptly tearmed by the Greekes [...], [Page] that is to say, Greene and lustie Age. fresh, lustie and florishing A­ged men, not much tainted, nipped, or bit­ten with yeeres. This lustie greene Age may fitly bee called the Doore, or Entrie into a reuerend stowping Age: and it sea­zeth and catcheth some bodies sooner, and some later.

The second is of such, as for weakenes and want of strength are growne to bee nummish in their limmes and vnweldie for any bodily trauaile: Graue, re­uerent and honorable Age. which after some easie exercise, or now and then bayning, doe orderly feede: and after such repast or meate doe quietly betake themselues to sleepe and rest: and these sorte of fatherly grayheaded men bee in Greeke tearmed [...]. And the third kinde of Old­age is of them, which beeing riueled and wrinckled, and hauing the skinne of their faces and bodies, all crumpled, pursed and drawne together, Dotage. are not able any more for very feeblenes and impotencie to vse any exercise, but contenting themselues with some soft walking, leane and staye them on their staffe, or els by others are led by the hand: whom (for that they are now gooing toward their long home and [Page] haue the one foote, and almost both, alrea­die in the graue) the Greekes doe call [...]. Therefore, seeing wee haue in hand purposely to prescribe a Dietarie for Oldmen, it shall not bee amisse nor vn­profitable to speake first a fewe wordes of their naturall temperature, and mutuall difference among themselues.

Olde mens bodies by nature are colde and drye. For, Old men, colde and drye. the radicall humour and substantificall moysture beeing in tract of time by litle and litle wasted, which (like Dewe) is distributed, and interspersed in and among all the similare and principall partes of the bodie; together with the na­turall heate likewise by litle and litle wa­ning and drooping away: the whole bodie cannot choose but decay withall & growe toward final dissolution. So that now al the instrumental parts of the bodie being become too dry, the whole members must needes weakely, feebly, disorderly, ill and out of frame or course performe and exe­cute their appoynted actions and ordina­rie offices. Wherefore the bodie now first lacking his naturall strength and mainte­naunce, beginneth to quaile and faile in [Page] his necessarie & conuenient nourishment, and becommeth thereby slenderer, thinner and dryer then it was, or thē it should bee: and therevpon the strength, powers, and faculties thereof are enfeebled, and to ex­pedient motions or exercises apparantly disabled. But, when yet further and grea­ter store of drynesse ensueth and groweth vpon it, like as Trees and Plants wither away with rottennes and want of sappe, euē so doth the body drowping with Age, finally wast, decay and consume: yet not in all persons alike, but sooner or later in some then in other some, according to the constitution, temperature, qualitie and complexion of their bodies: and also ac­cording to the vnruly, vnseasonable, and il dyet vsed, and things (of themselues good and wholesome) vntemperatly frequen­ted. For, wee doe not all consist, neither are wee all alike made from our birth in one equall and like measure of elemental qualities, and therfore neither doe we vse one onely vniforme Dyet at al times and in all respects. And herevpon it commeth to passe that some sooner then some, and others later then others, beginne to haue [Page] Beardes and to bee hayrie: some sooner growe to mans state and stature: some bee tresh, lustie, strong, and beare their age gallantly: some waxe hoarte headed and will quickly be olde: and so consequently become either weaker and feebler, or healthier and stronger.

Wherfore, by the number of yeeres to make any certain distinction or difference of Ages, it is very hard, yea, vnpossible to doe it. For, it is often seene, that by rea­son of the natural distemperaunce of some one principal member, or moe: or for that, Why some growe old, sooner then some. from the very birth, the same bee not pro­portionably mixed & sorted, some doe liue all their life time sicklie and diseased, and so arriuing to vntimely olde age, doe py­ningly languish and dye. Some againe, hauing sound Bodies, and of as excellent good constitution as might bee, through vntemperate dyet and ryetous life haue hastened Old age, & brought themselues to graye heades before their time: who, if they had followed the good aduise and dis­creete counsell of the learned Phisition, might haue continued themselues in a more prosperous and longer health, till [Page] they had come to the poynt of extreeme Oldage.

He therefore that exactly and perfect­ly knoweth, that Drinesse and Coldnesse together, doe possesse Aged bodies: & that of olde men among themselues, The best Phisition for an olde man. there is great oddes and diuersitie, whether we re­spect the course of their Age and number of their yeres, or the peculiar temperature and appropried complexion of euery one seuerally: that person (doubtlesse) is a fit Phisitiō and a good Nurse for Old men. For hee will quickly deuise and find out a contrarie course to qualifie & meete with those two qualities: that is to say, he will altogether apply himself to vse such helps and meanes, whereby to bring them to be hoate and moyst. As touching the quan­titie and measure of such remedies as hee must vse, he may as occasion serueth, (ac­cordingly either as the age of the partie, or as his custome and ordinary dealings and fashions do require) occupy and take: euer regarding and hauing an eye to the aforesayd distemperance that raigneth in this olde Age. For by all these, hee shalbe much holpen and furthered, to knowe [Page] more certainly the weake and foreworne disposition of Olde folkes.

Now, forasmuch as our body is daily affected and continually groweth toward weakenes and debilitie: n [...]edes must it in that respect, feele a double inconuenience, the one, of alteration: the other of conti­nuall decay of it owne substaunce. For, ouer and besides the sundrie outwarde meanes of alteration, which many wayes happen vnto y ^e bodie, as though they were engraffed and naturally breeding therin: Doe wee not see, that through daylie and continuall decaying and wasting of some parte of the bodily substaunce, and of the diminishing and empayring of naturall heate, together with the expence of the spirits and of the simple & similare parts, Age doth stealingly creepe vpon vs, and therewith drines & colones besiegeth and assayleth vs? Wherevpon naturall heate beeing once abated, the ventres and offi­tiall members seruing for the conuenient conueighaunce of humours and distribu­tion of nourishment, are vtterly vnabled from accomplishing their offices and per­forming their actions: and the power at­tractiue [Page] found either to bee very small, or greatly depraued and out of frame: wher­by the bodie becommeth bloudlesse and cold, and all the strength, comelinesse and beautie thereof banished and exiled: it a­boundeth also & is full pestred with great store of phlegme, and whayish excremen­tall baggage, vnlesse it bee (accordingly as strength will permit) discreetely and temperatly dyeted.

In this place therfore, the mark where­at wee leuell and ayme, for the good and orderly vsage of Olde men in their Dyet and trade, be manifest and plaine enough: namely, that there bee first a supplie and filling of those places in the body which are emptyed & euacuated, Three ends to be obser­ued in dye­ting olde men. with such nou­rishment as is agreeable and conformable to the substaunce decayed and wasted: se­condly, that the distemperature of the bo­die, whether the same bee naturall or ac­cidentall, bee qualified and altered by his contraries: and thirdly, that there bee a conuenient and seasonable expelling or purging of superfluous excrements and noysome humours, by the pores and pas­sages, that serue to that end and purp [...]se. [Page] All these endes, are sufficiently attayned vnto, and all these markes are rightly hit, by expedient receipt and conuenient vse of meates and drinkes: by wholesome bayning in sweete waters: by moderate exercises: by gētle rubbings and frictions in the morning with Oyle: by orderly and seasonable sleepe: by moderate aff [...]ctions of the minde: and by vsing sometime (if neede so require) some milde and gentle medicines. Of all these, wee here purpose at this time particularly to entreate.

The summe and effect of all holesome dyet (saieth Galene) consisteth in these fo­wer things: Lib. 1. de sanit. tue [...]. lib. de con­stitut. [...] Medicinae, & lib. ad Thrasibulū. in taking things conuenient to bee taken: in doing things expedient to bee done: in drawing out, things requisite to bee drawne out: and in such things as happen outwardly. Which fower poynts the Arabyan Auicen (though not very learnedly & eloquently, yet (certes) plain­lie and orderly vttered and expounded of Old mens dyet: his wordes be these: The effect and summe of their regiment is, to applye and vse that which may heate and humect: namely, nourishing meates, Bathes or Baynes, Drinks, large sleepe, [Page] long lying in Bedd, longer (I saye) then young men neede: continuall prouoking of vrine, expelling of phlegme from their stomackes by way of the Entrailes and Bladder, and carefully preseruing, gently cherishing and mildly maintayning Na­ture in them. Tert. primi. doctri. tertie cap. primo. Thus much out of Auicen.

Furthermore, the apt and profitable vse of these wholesome things, especially consisteth in these three points: namely, in conuenient quantitie, expedient qualitie, and meete time and maner of vsing the same. Euery one of which, are briefly and after his accustomed maner appoynted and particularly set down by that worthie Hippocrates: where he saieth: Exercise, Meate and Drinke, Partic. 6. Epidem. Sleepe, Carnall knowledge, let al these be moderatly and measurably vsed. Againe, neither is ful­nesse and sarietie good: neither long ab­stinence and hunger: neither any other things, Partic. 2. Aphor. failing in the measure that nature requireth. And againe: Sleepe & watch, aswell the one as the other, if they exceede measure, Partic. 2. Aphor. 3. be hurtfull and ill. And appoyn­ting what tyme is fit and conuenient for exercise, he sayth in an other place: Let [Page] some conuenient exercise bee vsed afore meate.

Wherefore, olde folkes must feede spa­ringly and moderatly, not inf [...]rcing them selues with much at once, but often in a daye, as twise or thrise, as their strength shall seeme to require, & be able to beare: and as by custome they haue acquainted themselues. For, if they exceede measure neuer so little, it doth them much harme. The Con­stitution of old folkes. Sometime, when as their naturall heate is small and weake, they haue much adoe, and are not able to concoct & digest much meate and many meales. Moreouer, in this Age, the skinne beeing thicke and by reason of the pores of the bodie (beeing now in a maner closed vp) subiect to ob­struction, although some Old folkes that bee lustie and strong, doe now and then well enough digest the meate they eate: yet, for that the thinne excrements and su­perfiuities of their bodie hath no issue or bent to passe out, they can not choose but be much encombred with ill humours, and haue their bodies pestred and surcharged with abundance of crude diseases, and ma­ladies of no small daunger.

[Page]Wee therefore, herein specially imita­ting Galen (who in his describing of a fa­miliar and (as it were) a peculiar directiō of health for his Countrymen of Greece, vsed for an exāple or patterne, Antiochus the Phisition, Telephus the Gram­marian, and certaine other Old men that liued till they were of extreme age) will likewise in this our prescription of the Old mans Dietarie, assay so to order and deale with him, both for his tyme, turnes and seasons, and also for the qualitie and quantitie of such things as hee must vse, that by conferring our aduise and direc­tion, and the meanes of our vsuall and fa­miliar Dyet with that tried rule and per­fect squire and leuell of Dyet, vsed by fa­mous Auncients of old tyme, we may be able certainly to knowe and vndoubtedly discerne, what is needfull to be added, and what is necessary and behoouefull to bee withdrawne and taken awaye from such Oldmen, for whō we purposely write this present Regiment: exactly trying & duely considering withall, the habite, constitu­tion, plight, dispositiō, qualitie & strength of their bodies: together also with the na­ture [Page] of the Region or country where they haue bene bred and dwell, and also the cu­stome or fashion wherunto they haue bene most acquainted and enured.

For Aetius wordes (which he borowed out of Galens discourse of Antiochus the Phisition beeing nowe foure score yeeres old) are these: Their meate must be as it were a litle pittance at once, but they must haue it thrise in a day. Lib. 4. cap. 13. Let them haue ther­fore about nine of the clocke some newe bread well moulded and made, and mode­rately baked with some excellent good clarified, skummed, and despumed Hon­ny. About one of the clocke: after friction and such exercises as are fit for olde men, and after washing, let them haue their di­ner: and let them first beginne with such things as be good to clense and keepe the belly soluble, as Beetes or Mallowes: and such Fishes as swimme in a cleane Sea, skouring themselues among the harde Rockes, and naturally tossed and beaten with the winde and Sourges. Af­ter they haue dyned, let them rest them­selues, taking a quiet nappe a while vpon their Bedde, and let them walke a little. [Page] When they suppe at night, let them eate no Fish, but choose meates of the best nou­rishment, and such as will not easily cor­rupt and putrifie: as namely a Chicken, or a Bird boyled in a single broth.

This sentence, opinion and prescripti­on of Aetius is confirmed also by Auicen, and after his blunt and barbarous maner, auouched and set downe in these wordee: The nourishment of Oldmen must be gi­uen vnto them by litle and litle, 3. Primi. Doctri. 3. cap. 2. and they must euery day bee twise or thryse nouri­shed by litle and litle, according as they be of digestion, strength and debilitie: and let them eate at eight of the clock some bread well made with Honny, and about one of the clock also after they haue bene conue­niently bayned and washed. Afterward let them soften, mollifie, lowse and make sol­luble their belly, with such things as wee shal set downe: and toward night let them eate some good nourishing meat: & if they bee strong of nature, and haue good dige­sting stomakes, they may suppe the more largely. And in all their meates, let them especially take heed they meddle not with any such foode as engendreth Melancho­ly [Page] or Phlegme: Let them also beware of al such nourishment as is hoate, sharp and drying, vnlesse it bee purposely vsed for some speciall respect of medicine.

Thus somewhat confusedly, disorder­ly, vnaptly and vnrespectively doth Aui­cen iumble and shuffle vp in a heape, as a generall rule for euery Olde man, that, which particularly and example sake both Galen and Aetius set doune only for An­tiochus: Whereas the same Galene, writeth not onely this: but that other Old men also liued long, with Milke and Ho­ny alone, with bread and other strong and solide meates.

By this Ordinarie thus prescribed and taught vs by Greekes and Arabians, Supper must bee larger then Dinner. this may we plainly gather contrary to the o­pinion of some later Phisicions, that sup­per ought to be larger, and taken in grea­ter quantitie then dinner: Which thing Celsus (treating of that diet which is best to be obserued in Winter) seemeth to al­lowe, and in fewe words to approue. For his counsell is to eate meate in the day but onely once: and if that once, be a din­ner, he affirmeth it to be so much the bet­ter. [Page] If he haue eaten and drunke but litle in the day, or haue fed vpon such foode as giueth but small & weake nourishment, he may the boldlier eate flesh and other strōg nourishing meates in the euening to sup­per: for that the nights are at that time of the yere of a great length, and sleepe also very long: Whereby their nourishment must by good reason be then the greater, and the more in quantitie. For by Sleepe in the night is digestion and concoction best performed: which in the day time vp­pon any light occasion, through affection of the mind and vnseasonable exercises, are many tymes hindred and vnorderly done; as by Galene in his seauenth Me­thod of curing the drie distemperance of the Ventricle is notably declared.

But in prescribing of any Diet what­soever, aswel for the whole, as for the sick, wee must euer haue a regard (as Hippo­crates counselleth) to Custome: 1. Partic. Aphor. 17. & marke well how a man hath of long continuance enured himselfe. For we see some, that at dinner will eate more largely then at sup­per: and cōtrariwise, some others that wil eate and drinke lesse at dinner, then at sup­per. [Page] Which custome Galen in many pla­ces willeth at no hande to bee altered or chaunged in an Oldman. Custome may not be broken and altered. 5. Sanit. tuend. And thus much for the maner and order of meates and drinkes, aswell at dinner as supper, most agreeable for Oldmen.

It remaineth now, that we likewise cō ­pendiously and briefely set downe what Meates be vnholsome, or be of ill iuyce, and giue naughtie nourishment. This therefore must first and principally be no­ted, that all Meates and drinkes in gene­rall, yeelding grosse, Grosse meates of tough nou­rishment to be auoyded clammy and tough nourishment, are vnto old men very hurt­full & dangerous: as Frumentie, Cheese, rosted Egges, Cockles, Onions, Scalli­ons, Mushromes, Lintels, Oysters, &c.

Old men therefore must vse to eate such meates as be easie in concoction, quickly nourishing, soone alterable into the sub­stance of the body: of good iuyce and com­mendable nourishment, without any store of excrements. Let their bread be well ba­ked, throughly moulded, Bread. sufficiently lea­uened, and moderately salted, reasonably boulted and fined from the Branne.

And let them take heede they eate not [Page] bread when it is newe, or when it is ill ba­ked, or vnleauened, & that which is made of the finest Wheate Flowre and purest Meale. The bread y ^t is made of that kind of Wheate, This Zea or Spelta, is thought to be our Rye. which is called Zea or Spelt, is better, holsomer, and fitter for them, and so is Barley bread, although it nourish no­thing so much as the other.

Cakebread not whole­some.They must also forbeare and eschewe all Pastlarie and Cakebread, that is made of fine Paste, Butter, Milke, Cheese, Ho­ny and Sugar.

Flesh.The flesh of such forefooted beastes as for hugenesse of body, Oldage, leanenesse, and hardnesse of flesh be any way notable, are likewise for thē noysome and hurtfull. The best for thē, is the flesh of a Chicken, of a yong Pullet, or wilde birds, breeding vpon Hilles and Mountaines: as againe, they bee the worst, that liue and feede in Fennes, Ditches, Pondes, Pooles, and standing Waters.

Fish.All bigge bodied and great fishes, ram­mish in taste and strong in sent, oyly, fattie slymie, tough and clammy in iuyce, are specially to be auoyded. Those that liue a­bout cleare rockes, and stonie places, and [Page] be much beaten & tossed with the continu­all Surges and waues of the Sea, (by meanes whereof they are not embroyned with filthinesse) are greatly commended and accompted the holsomest.

The best Egges be those, that are reare, Egges. poched, and as it were halfe rosted, so that they may bee supped vp. The worst are, those that be fried, hard and rosted.

All maner of Whitemeates made of Milke, is generally forbidden, Milkmeates as very hurtfull and vnholsome for Old men: for that they engender the stone in the reines, and otherwise easely and quickly procure obstructions.

But Cheese namely must be forborne, Cheese. and take heede of, specially if it be old, hard or rotten. For ouer and beside the tough­nesse and grossenesse of the nourishment which it hath: there is in it also a iuyce en­gendring much store of corrupt humors. Yet that Cheese that is made of sower milke, Buttermilk Cheese. may safely be eaten with a little Honny, so it be afore other meate, to louse and pourge the belly. Likewise, in Som­mer when the weather is extremely hoat, newe milke warme from the vdder, may [Page] be giuen them by it selfe, without any o­ther meate ioyned with it: foreseene, that a litle Sugar or Salt, or pure Honny be put vnto it & so stirred together, for feare least it congeale and curdle in their Sto­mackes.

Fruictes.Timely ripe Somer fruites may safe­ly be eaten, so it be afore other meates, and at beginning of meales: as Cherries, Prunes, Peaches, &c. Otherwise there are none good & holsome, except ripe gra­pes hanged vp a while afore they be eaten, Damaske, or rather Spanish Prunes, and ripe and drie Figges. Dates also, and Pyne Apples are not good, for that they cause gnawing in the stomack, make grosse iuyce, and engender obstructions or stoppings in the Liuer and Spleene.

Pulse.All maner of Pulse is also to bee esche­wed, vnlesse it be the decoction or Broth of Beanes, Peasen and Chiches.

Pothearbes growing in gardens, & good to eate.Among hearbes for the pot, and vsuall to bee eaten, the best in this case are, Let­tise, Malowes, Orange, Blite, white Bee­tes, Sorrell, Borage, Buglosse, Cheruile and Parsely.

Wine.Wine, to Old men is right soueraigne [Page] and cordiall: and to their nature is most profitable and agreeable, because it doth properly heate and moisten the body. And that Wine is best cōmended for Old men which is thinne and fine in substance, and yellow or reddish of colour. For it heateth all their members, and it purgeth by vrine the watrie or whayish substaunce of their bloud.

Ale and Beere for Old mens ordinary drinke is thought to bee nothing so hol­some. Al water also, either drunke alone, or mingled with Wine, is accompted vn­holsome and hurtful, vnlesse (Custome be­ing to the contrarie) it hath bene vsed to be drunke and mingled with some such meates as serue to louse and mollifie the bellie.

Olde men beeing much troubled with the Gout, and the Stone, Olde men troubled with the Gowte, or with the Stone. if now and then in their broths (which they vse to prouoke vrine) they put some quātitie of oenomell or Meade, they shall find a singular ease.

Thus much touching the qualitie of Meates and Drinkes most profitable for Olde men. Let vs nowe semblably set downe a fewe wordes, and shewe in what [Page] measure and order it shalbe most expedi­ent for them to take them. Order and measure for Old mens feeding. For seeing that al Old men for y ^e most part, are by nature costiue, and haue hard and drie bellies: it shalbe good for them, alwayes to eate and sende before their other Meates, such things as haue vertue, gently to louse and mollifie their Bellies. 3. Prim. Doctri. 3. cup. 2. Auicen his coun­sell tendeth thereunto, where hee saieth: Such pot herbes and fruites as Old men should eate, are the wild Carret, the white Beete, Parsely and a little quantitie of Leekes, which they ought to eate, beeing picked and condite with Almure & Oyle, and specially at the beginning of their meales, that they may extenuate & clense the body, and make it soluble, and cause the wine to passe well. Thus much out of Auicen: which he, worde for word, bor­rowed out of Galen and Aetius in the places afore recited.

Sundrie dishes at one meale hurtfull.In meate therfore, let Old men mode­rately vse themselues, and let them in any wise eschewe sundry Dishes and diuers sorts of meate at one and the same meale: Let them eate no more at one time then their stomackes can well concoct & digest.

[Page]Neither must oldmen bee carelesse in the choyse and [...]requenting of their exerci­ses. Exercise▪ For by idlenes and sitting still there commeth great inconuenience: whereas by moderate exercise and stirring, there commeth very much good and commodi­tie. In the morning therefore it shall doe them much good, before they fall to any meate, to vse some moderate exercise, and some gentle walking abroade.

But after Meate, all immoderate wal­king and vehement stirring is vtterly for­bidden them: and in steede thereof they are to be enioyned to rest, & to repose them selues, that the meate in their Stomacke may leisurely and conueniently bee dige­sted, and not too hastily conueighed into the rest of the members before they be suf­ficiently concocted.

If for some weakenesse, debilitie or in­firmity of the feete, he be not able to walk, let him ride or be caried abroade a while. Fricasies and Rubbings in the morning with warme Oyle, Fricasie and rubbing, or soft stroa­king ouer. and soft handes while he is yet fasting, may supply and stand in steede of other exercise.

And this Fricasie or Rubbing must be [Page] done downward, that is to say, beginning at the upper parts of the body, and so brin­ging the hand downward toward y ^e lower partes. But for such as be discrased in the upper partes of their bodies, as they that haue the swimming in their Head, or bee troubled with the Headach or payne in their Necke, or greeued with the Apo­plexie, it shalbe best to apply their Frica­sies, Rubbings and exercises to their nei­ther partes onely. If they bee subiect to the Gowte and grieues in their ioyntes, it shall be very good for them, often to stirre and exercise their armes and hands. But as in all things els: so in this, speciall re­gard must be had to Custome: that Olde­men be not rashly and sodainly drawen by and by to a diuers course and contrary or­der, either in their vsage of meate and drinke, or in any other kind of exercise or respect whatsoeuer. For, to alter the ha­bite and long continued custome of an Oldman, is both hard and dangerous.

Furthermore, Oldmēs bodies through impotencie and debilitie of the nourish­ing facultie, are encombred and pestered commonly with watrish excrements, and [Page] rawe humours: whereby they haue neede of such helps as may prouoke bryne, exte­nuate the clamminesse and toughnesse of those humours, and also to vse such medi­cinable meates, as bee abstersiue, and expell all daungers threatened thereby. But forasmuch as all such bee sharpe and hoat in operation, it is therefore required in the Phisition, to be therin very circum­spect and carefull, that hee direct the drift of all his hoat Medicines and meates to this ende, partly thereby to helpe forward concoction, and to make proportionable distribution of the meate into al the mem­bers of the bodie: and partly, to open ob­structions, and to expell all phlegmaticke and clammie matter: and not flatly to dry vp the bodie, and so consequently to bring the whole Aged habite into a more cold­nesse and refrigeration: which thing wee see some ignorant Empericks and Prac­titioners in Phisicke commonly to doe, who neuer thinke themselues to haue she­wed sufficient proofe of their dapper skill vpon the bodies of their Patients, vnlesse they straight waies with some strong so­lutiue, they make a cleane riddance of all [Page] that is in their weake bellies.

In Olde men therefore, to make them soluble, to purge phlegme and to louse their bellies, it shall bee effectuall and suf­ficient enough to vse Oliues condite, and Capers pickled in Oyle, or Honny eaten with bread, Mercurie, Mallowes, Blite, the decoction of Colewortes or Cabages, a Figge now and then eaten with a little Sene, & some good Turpentine as much in quantitie as two or three Walnuttes. For, this not onely mollifieth and louseth the bellie, but mundifieth also and clean­seth the entrailes, openeth the obstructiōs of the Lunges, sknowreth the Kidneyes, and driueth out grauell: the proportion of his Receipt is appoynted to be one vnce.

Things good to pro­uoke vrine.To prouoke vrine in Old men, Parse­lie both roote and seede, & Saxifrage are of a singular vertue. And if they mistrust or suspect the grauell in their Kidneyes, or bee subiect to the Gowte and griefe in their Ioyntes, it shall bee good for them (saith Galen) to vse Meade or oenomel: 3. De sanit. [...]en. so that for the Gowte and ioynt sicknesse, they add thereunto Parselie: and for the Stone and grauell, some Betonie.

[Page]Beside the premisses, there be yet other things no lesse to bee respected: namely, such as are outwardly incident vnto vs: of which sorte are these: Ayre, Water, Fier, Oyle, Bathes, Sleepe, and Affec­tions of the mynd.

Ayre therefore must bee chosen, Best ayre for dwel­lings. ac­cording to the nature and season of the yeere, and enterchaungeable state of the weather and ayre encompassing vs, some­while hoat, and somewhile but somewhat wharme. It must not be neere to any stan­ding Pooles, stinking Ditches, Fennes, Marshes, common Sinkes, Draughtes or Priuies, y ^e serue for great multitudes of people: it must be such as hath by turnes, one while the East, and an other while, the West winde freely blowing ouer it.

For vses of the Kitchin: Best water. the best and wholesomest is Fountaine or Well wa­ter, pure, cleare, hauing no euident quali­tie or sensible signe, either of tast or smell, and at the place of his arising out of the ground, looking toward the East. For if it runne on hard Stones and peebles, and haue his prospect toward y ^e North, where the Sunne beames giue no shine nor heat [Page] thereunto, it is to bee misliked and attoy­ded, as raw, hard and vnpleasaunt, engen­dring windinesse and fretting in the En­trailes and hypocondricall partes. Partic. 5. Aphor. 26. Hip­pocrates setteth downe sundry notes and meanes, wherby to knowe and trye which is the best Water: for that (saith he) is the best water that is lightest. And the ligh­test water is that, which wil soone be hoat and soone colde. Also that, whereof com­meth least skumme or froath when it boy­leth. Also dip linnen cloathes into sundrie waters, & afterward lay them forth to dry: looke then which is soonest drye, and that wherein it was dipped, is the best water, the purest and the wholesomest. The ligh­test water (sayth Celsus) is Raynewater: Lib. 2. cap. 17. because it is most subtile, and of all others most penetratiue. The next is that, which gussheth out of a Spring. The third is of a cleane running Riuer: The fourth is Cunduite water: The fifth, the water of Snowe and Yce: worse then that, is the water of standing Pooles and Pondes: and worst of al, is that which is of Fennie Ditches.

Bathes.Bathes or Baynes of sweete waters in [Page] the Spring, Sommer, and Autumne, en­terchaungeably vsing therewith the de­coction of hoat hearbes and rootes, be ex­cellent good & profitable for Old folkes. For they open the pores being pursed and drawne together through drinesse, they doe mollifie the hard and stiffe parts: they disperse by euaporation the abundance of humors: they leisurely drawe out sweate and excrementall matter: finally, they doe humect and calefie the substantiall and so­lide partes of the bodie, with a pleasaunt, warme, vaporous, and dewie moysture.

In Winter & such seasons wherein the weather is cold, Winter. it shalbe good to kéep thē ­selues in a warme Chāber with a Chim­ney, hauing fire: for so doe wee reade that Antiochus at such times vsed to doe.

Competent and measurable Sleepe is best, Sleepe. beeing of seuen or eight howers continuance. But at any hand, Sleepe must bee forborne and not vsed immediat­ly after meate, neither must it bee either too much or too large.

Affections and perturbations of the minde, Affections and pertur­bations of the mynde [...] as they greatly endamage and an­noye euery Age: so to Olde folkes especi­ally [Page] they bee most hurtfull and daunge­rous. For they alter their bodies, and vt­terly dispossesse them from their naturall consistencie: they drye vp the bones, and banish away the vitall spirite. Old folkes therefore must by reason, maister their af­fections, and by discretion qualifie all ac­cidents whatsoeuer: they must retaine a merry minde, and settle themselues in the state of tranquillitie. Let them recreate and solace themselues with Histories of notable things aforetime exployted, and with the cōference and companie of their assured louing friends: that, all dumpish, clowdie, sorrowfull, sullen, lumpish cares, and grieues beeing vtterly put to flight, they may with mery and cheereful minds the more quietly & feruently addict them­selues vnto godly meditations, and to the seruice of God.